Fastener

ABSTRACT

A two-dimensional object is one which has substantially no depth relative to its length and width, e.g., a sheet of paper or a fabric sample. A fastener therefor, comprising a substantially two-dimensional row of hook-like clasping means is attached to a two-dimensional object, and may be releasably engaged with a matted surface for hinging relationship of the substantially twodimensional article therewith. The fastening locus, i.e., the locus defined by the engagement of discrete ones of the hook-like fastening means with the material of the matted surface, is substantially one-dimensional, as is the hinging locus.

States Patent [1 91 11110 Nugent I 1 FASTENER 221 Filed: Sept. 1, 197121 Appl.N0.: 141,130

[52] US. Cl 24/204, 281/21, l6/DIG. 13, 40/102 [51] Int. Cl A441) 17/00[58] Field of Search 24/204; 16/DIG. 13, 16/122, 128; 281/17, 16, 15,21; 402/19; 40/102 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,274,6169/1966 Russo 24/204 2,882,907 4/1959 Puliafico 24/204 3,077,089 2/1963Silverman 24/204 3,353,844 1l/l967 Staats 281/17 3,475,810 11/1969 Mates24/DIG, 18 3,490,449 1/1970 Ewerwahn 24/204 2,153,575 4/1939 Kramer402/19 Jan. 15, 1974 2,234,401 3/1941 Farkas 402/19 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 452,477 5/1968 Switzerland 28/21 R 1,019,995 11/1957Germany 402/19 Primary ExaminerBernard A. Gelak Attorney-Douglas S.Johnson 57] ABSTRACT A two-dimensional object is one which hassubstantially no depth relative to its length and width, e.g., a sheetof paper or a fabric sample. A fastener therefor, comprising asubstantially two-dimensional row of hook-like clasping means isattached to a two dimensional object, and may be releasably engaged witha matted surface for hinging relationship of the substantiallytwo-dimensional article therewith. The fastening locus, i.e., the locusdefined by the engagement of discrete ones of the hook-like fasteningmeans with the material of the matted surface, is substantiallyone-dimensional, as is the hinging locus.

3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Pmmmm 15 1974 3.7851013 SHEET 10F 2[NVIZNIUR BY H WALTER s. NUGENT.

PATENTEU JAN 15 I974 SHEET 2 BF 2 1 FASTENER This invention relates to afastener which is particularly adapted for releasably and hingablyfastening substantially two-dimensional objects to other means intendedtherefor. The invention also relates to the combination of such afastener with means for engaging the same.

In devices such as loose-leaf binders, the pages which are insertedtherein are generally pierced with a plurality of holes alongside oneedge thereof, through which holes, posts or rings pass so as to securethe pages into the binder. Accountants ledger pages, catalogue pagesespecially such as those maintained by automotive and electrical dealersand distributors and many other sheet-like articles are, or may be,retained in binders. However, pages which are retained in binders havingposts or rings are subject to tearing near the holes pierced therein ifaforce is applied along the page away from a post or ring; and, in anyevent, the binder having the posts or rings must in some way or anotherbe disassembled before pages can be removed or placed therein. Also,particularly in the case of looseleaf binders having rings, as pages areturned in the binder they must very often slide along the ring of thebinder, thereby creating further chances of tearing the page and ofdamaging the periphery of holes punched therein for engagement with therings of the binder.

Other, somewhat heavier articles are very often desired to be bound orretained against a backing or spine from which they can be removed andwith which they can have hinging engagement. Such applications includepaper and carpeting samples, poster displays, hardware displays, etc. Inthese circumstances, while the weight of each article to be hingablyreleasably retained may be appreciably heavier than that of a singlepage in a loose-leaf binder, the same principles respecting hingable andreleasable engagement are maintained.

The difficulties inherent with the former post and/or ring device forengaging and binding sheet-like articles, booklets, etc., can beovercome by the fastener of the present invention, and by such as abinder also pro vided thereby. The present invention teaches a fastenerwhich has a substantially one-dimensional fastening locus with the meansto which it fastens. The fastening is accomplished by an engagement ofdiscrete ones of a substantially two-dimensional row of hook-likeclasping means with a matted surface.

A type of fastener has been provided in the past, which comprises twofacing surfaces (usually provided on tapes or the like); one of whichsurfaces has a multiplicity of formed, hook-like protuberances thereon,and the other of which surface is a matted or felted surface having amultiplicity of loops with which the hooks can interengage. Certaintypes of such fasteners are sold under the trade mark VELCRO." However,such fasteners must rely on the interengagement of two opposing faces orsurfaces as discussed above, and the engagement of one article toanother using such fasteners is therefore limited to devices having asubstantial area which can face or oppose such an area on the otherdevice to which it is intended to be engaged so that the opposingsurfaces of the fastener may, themselves, interengage.

The present invention, on the other hand, provides for a substantiallyone-dimensional interengagement between the fastener taught herein and asimple matted surface for engagement therewith. A hingable, releasablefastening of one article to another is thereby achieved.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention therefore provides for afastener which is primarily intended for use with substantiallytwo-dimensional objects, but which in any event provides a releasable,hingable engagement of an article to another.

This invention further provides a binder suitable for loose-leaf bindingof pages, booklets, etc., therein, where each page is releasably andhingably engaged with the spine of the binder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

These and other objects and features of the invention are discussedhereafter, in association with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a composite view showing a first embodiment of a fasteneraccording to this invention as it advances towards a surface engageabletherewith;

FIG. 2 is a view showing the hinging arrangement of an article attachedto a fastener of this invention relative to another article with whichit is engaged;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing another embodiment of thefastener according to this invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing yet another embodiment ofthe fastener according to this invention;

FIG. 5 is a view of a plurality of sheet-like articles fastened to asurface engageable with fasteners according to this invention; i

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a binder according to thisinvention;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a still further embodiment of afastener according to this invention;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of yet a further embodiment of afastener according to this invention; and

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of a fastener according to thisinvention, in association with an article, and engaged to a surfaceengageable with the fastener.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

In the following discussion, the term surface as it relates to a mattedsurface engageable with a fastener according to this invention isintended to convey a meaning of something having the sense of depth, aswell as the dimensions of length and width. In other words, a referenceto a matted surface as it relates to this invention is to one with whichthe fastener of this invention engages with the effective locus ofengagement being, in effect, penetrated into the matted surface. Suchmatted surfaces may be, while not limited to, loosely felted and wovensurfaces, ones comprising a plurality of loops, and surfaces of agenerally fibrous nature, which may be slightly penetrated by discreteones of the hook-like clasping means of the fastener according to thispresent invention, as discussed hereafter.

It should be noted that an article such as a page of paper intended tobe bound into a loose-leaf binder, or

3 otherwise, is essentially a-substantially two-dimensional article.That is, the page has length and width, but no depth; and a sidewaysprojection or view of a page is essentially one-dimensional, i.e., aline having length only. Even such articles as a small magazinecatalogue or circular comprising only a few pages may be consideredsubstantially two-dimensional, in that their depth or thickness isusually quite insignificant when compared with either their width orlength.

A fastener according to this present invention is shown generally inFIG. 1 at 10. The fastener comprises a body portion in the form of aribbon 12, and a plurality of hook-like protuberances from the ribbon12, indicated generally at 14. A general, top-wise view of a fasteneraccording to this invention is shown at 11 in FIG. 2; and the fastener11 could be any one of the embodiments of the invention as discussedhereafter, because its relationship to and engagement with a mattedsurface shown generally at 13 is essentially the same irrespective ofthe specific embodiment of the fastener.

Associated with the fastener 10 of FIG. 1 is a sheetlike article 16,which is conveniently fastened to the ribbon portion 12 of fastener 10by adhesive 18. The sheet-like article 16 may be a page of paper, afabric sample, etc., as discussed above.

A matted surface is shown generally at 20 in FIG. 1. The locus ofengagement, or the fastening locus, between the fastener 10 and thematted surface 20, is shown by the line 22. As noted, each of thehook-like clasping means 14 comprises a shank 24 and a hook or partialloop 26 at the end thereof. Thus each hook-like clasping means 24,26 maybe considered as having a substantially U-shaped portion integrallysecured to each shank with one leg integrally secured to its associatedstem and the other leg being directed toward one edge of the ribbon. Theother legs face in one longitudinal direction. The U-shaped portionshave substantially a uniform, constant cross-sectional dimension. Thereference numerals 24 and 26 are used throughout the drawings toillustrate the shank and hook end respectively of each of the hook-likeclasping means 14 which are illustrated therein.

The matted surface 20 is as discussed above, and as such, it is at leastpartially penetratable by each of the hook ends 26. Thus, discrete onesof the hook ends 26 of the hook-like clasping means 14 engage thematerial of the matted surface, and a substantially onedimensionalfastening locus 22 is manifested thereby. The arrow 28 in FIG. 1 isintended to show the direction in which the article 16, together withthe fastener 10, is advanced towards the matted surface 20 so as to beengaged therewith. Obviously, to disengage the article or object 16 fromthe matted surface 20, it is necessary only to apply sufficient force onthe object in a direction opposite to that of direction 28 so as todisengage the engaged ones of the hooks 26 from the material of thematted surface 20; it being understood that the engagement between thefastener 10 and the article 16 such as by adhesive 18 is sufficientlystrong as to withstand such disengaging force.

The hinging relationship of an article 16 to a matted surface 13 by wayof fastener 11 is shown in FIG. 2. The end 17 of the fastener 11 isshown as slightly penetrating the matted surface 13, and a fasteninglocus is set up between the fastener 11 and matted surface 13 in thesame manner as the fastening locus 22 in FIG. 1.

Also, and in like manner, the hinging locus between the fastener 11 andmatted surface 13 is substantially onedimensional, so as to permit thearticle 16 to assume the positions shown at 16a and 16b, which arenearly apart.

It should be noted that, while the article 16 is shown as having somedepth, no relativity as to the dimensions thereof is implied because ofthe restrictions placed on the drawings by the drawings and reproductiontechniques used; and that in any event, the article 16 is asubstantially two-dimensional object as discussed above.

It should also be noted that the row of hook-like clasping means 14 isalso substantially twodimensional, there being no appreciablefront-to-back thickness or depth of each of the shanks 24 thereof, andthat the dimensions applicable to the row of hooklike clasping means 14are therefore only those of length or width. In the latter case, thedimension of length is considered to be that which is taken along theribbon 12, and of width as being that dimension from the outermost edgeof ribbon 12 to the outermost end of the hooks 26. It should also benoted that the plane of the substantially two-dimensional fastener issubstantially parallel to the plane of the two-dimensional object 16.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate two further embodiments wherein the plane ofthe substantially two dimensional row of hook-like clasping means 14 is,in each case, in the plane of the article 16 with which each of theembodiments is associated. Thus, the ribbon portion 19 of fastener 30 ofFIG. 3 is shown having a generally U- shaped cross-section with the legsof the U indicated at 32 and 34, and article 16 inserted therebetween.Again, the article 16 is suitably fastened to the inner surfaces of thelegs 32 and 34 of fastener 30 by such means as adhesive so as toovercome the detaching force which may be applied thereto so as todisengage article 16 together with fastener 30 from a suitable, engagingmatted surface. It is also noted, that once again, the faster includes asubstantially two-dimensional row of hook-like clasping means 14.

The fastener 36 shown in FIG. 4 may be formed together with the article15 which is intended to be releasably fastened with a suitable engagingmeans. The article 16 may be such as a sample of sheet plastic materialhaving sufficient strength that the shanks 24 of hook-like claspingmeans 14 are capable of withstanding compression and tension therealongas the article is engaged and disengaged with a suitable matted surface.

FIG. 5 shows a plurality of articles 16 engaged with a matted surface38. A further article 14, having fastener 21 associated therewith isshown as being about to be engaged with the matted surface 38, asindicated by arrows 40. Each of the discrete objects 16 is individuallyengaged with the matted surface 38 by means of its own fastener 21, inthe manner discussed above. The details of fastener 21 and the corner ofthe article 15 being that portion indicated at circle A" in FIG. 5, maybe such as those shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 or 7.

FIG. 6 shows a binder having a spine 42 and a matted surface 44 securedthereto. Covers 46 and 48 serve to protect the articles 16 which areretained therein. One of the articles, shown at 33, has a fastener 31associated therewith; and it is clearly hingable within the binder asindicated by arrows 35.

FIG. 7 shows yet another form of fastener 51 according to thisinvention. In this case, the ribbon portion of the fastener is indicatedat 50, and it is shown in turn attached to the spine or rear of anarticle 52. The article 52 may be a small booklet, a catalogue, amerchandise sample, a sheaf of papers, etc. A plurality of hooklikeclasping means 17 is shown upstanding from the ribbon backing 50, eachof which hook-like clasping means comprises a shank 24 and a hook 26, asbefore. As before, the fastening and hinging loci are onedimensional andthe fastener and article are each essentially two-dimensional. Each ofthe hook-like clasping means of fastener 51 of FIG. 7 is substantiallyparallel to the effective plane of the article 52.

FIG. 8 shows still another form of fastener 53 according to thisinvention. The fastener 53 is not unlike fastener of FIGS. 1 and 2, inthat it comprises a plurality of hook-like clasping means 17 which aresubstantially an extension of portion 55 thereof. The article 54 towhich the fastener 53 is attached may be a catalogue, booklet,merchandise sample, etc., as article 52 in FIG. 7 may also be the same.In this case, the hook-like clasping means are at least substantiallyparallel to the effective plane of article 54; and the fastening andhinging loci of the fastener are one-dimensional, as discussed above.

FIG. 9 illustrates the use of a fastener 57 in association with anarticle 56; and the fastener 57 is engaged with surface 58. Article 56may be a flexible sheet of paper which would be flat if laid out upon atable, and which has sufficient strength to stand as shown in FIG. 9when securely held at its bottom edge. In this case, the fastener 57 isflexible in its sideways direction so that it can assume theconfiguration shown, or any other configuration as may be desired. Afastener 57 may be used in architectural displays, place cards, etc.;and when the fastener 57 engages with surface 58, the engaging force issufficient that the planwise configuration of the fastener and article56 is maintained. In any event, the fastening locus (there beingsubstantially no hinging between article 56 and surface 58, as isclearly intended by the use and planwise configuration of fastener 57)between the fastener 57 and the engaging surface 58 is substantiallyone-dimensional in a plane defined by it within the depth of theengaging surface 58, because the fastening locus has only length withouthaving height or width.

It should be remarked that, when speaking of the plane of the article towhich a fastener according to this invention is attached, the plane isconsidered to be that which is defined by the article when it is, say,placed on a supporting surface such as a table or floor. Because thearticle is considered, in each case, to be substantiallytwo-dimensional, the reference to the plane of the article and itsrelationship to the fastener is relevant only with respect to theportions of the article and the fastener which are in association orjuxtaposition.

As indicated above, the object with which any fastener according to thisinvention is intended to be used may be a sheet-like article such as apiece of paper, or a fabric sample, etc. The material of which thefastener is made is usually a plastic material, and is such that theshanks 24 of the hook-like clasping means have sufficient strength so asgenerally to withstand the engaging and disengaging force along theirlength when the fastener is engaged or disengaged with a suitable mattedsurface. The edge of the article with which the fastener is intended tobe associated need not necessarily be straight, although when the edgeis not substantially straight, engagement between the fastener and asubstantially planar matted surface may be difficult, and a speciallyshaped matted surface may be required. Uses of the fastener according tothis invention in such special purposes as photography, commercial andpromotional display apparatus, etc., may therefore be contemplated. Asuitable matted engaging surface may include those sold in associationwith the trade mark VELCRO, as well as loosely felted materials, manytypes of broadloom, etc.

The use of a plurality of fasteners according to this invention inbinders such as one for catalogue pages, photographic diaries, scrapbooks, etc., can be readily and easily appreciated. The likelihood ofdamage to a page releasably fastened into a binder with a fasteneraccording to this invention is considerably lessened when compared tothe likelihood of damage to a page fastened into a standard, ringbinder. It has also been noted that a fastener according to thisinvention can be used with a plurality of different types ofsubstantially or effectively two-dimensional objects.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination, a matted surface having a multiplicity of loop-likeelements extending therefrom and to which a plurality of discreteobjects is to be hingedly and releasably fastened, and a fastener for atleast one such object;

the locus of hinging between said matted surface and said fastener beingsubstantially one-dimensional; said fastener comprising an elongatedplanar ribbon, a row of shanks integrally extending outwardly along oneedge of said ribbon, a U-shaped portion integrally secured to each shankwith one leg of said portion integrally secured to its associated stemand the other leg being directed toward said one edge thereby forminghook-like clasping means, said other legs facing in one longitudinaldirection, said U-shaped portions having a substantially uniform,constant cross-sectional dimension, said U-shaped portions lying in asingle row parallel to said one edge and lying in sub-stantially thesame plane with said stems and said ribbon, said hooklike means beingreleasably hingedly engageable with said matted surface and swingablethrough a position perpendicular to said matted surface; the fasteninginteraction between said matted surface and said fastener, and thefastening locus thereof, being by engagement of discrete ones of saidhooklike clasping means and said matted material;

said fastening interaction being releasable by the application orsufficient force outwardly along said row of hook-like clasping meansaway from said matted surface to disengage said discrete ones of saidhook-like clasping means from said matted material.

2. The combination of claim 1 where said at least one object is a sheetof pliable material having a single row of said hook-like clasping meansat one edge thereof.

3. The combination of claim 2 where said single row of hook-likeclasping means is formed integrally with said at least one object.

1. In combination, a matted surface having a multiplicity of loop-likeelements extending therefrom and to which a plurality of discreteobjects is to be hingedly and releasably fastened, and a fastener for atleast one such object; the locus of hinging between said matted surfaceand said fastener being substantially one-dimensional; said fastenercomprising an elOngated planar ribbon, a row of shanks integrallyextending outwardly along one edge of said ribbon, a U-shaped portionintegrally secured to each shank with one leg of said portion integrallysecured to its associated stem and the other leg being directed towardsaid one edge thereby forming hook-like clasping means, said other legsall facing in one longitudinal direction, said U-shaped portions havinga substantially uniform, constant crosssectional dimension, saidU-shaped portions lying in a single row parallel to said one edge andlying in substantially the same plane with said stems and said ribbon,said hook-like means being releasably hingedly engageable with saidmatted surface and swingable through a position perpendicular to saidmatted surface; said fastening interaction being releasable by theapplication or sufficient force outwardly along said row of hook-likeclasping means away from said matted surface to disengage said discreteones of said hook-like clasping means from said matted material.
 2. Thecombination of claim 1 where said at least one object is a sheet ofpliable material having a single row of said hook-like clasping means atone edge thereof.
 3. The combination of claim 2 where said single row ofhook-like clasping means is formed integrally with said at least oneobject.